A process is described for reducing the total acid number of a refinery feedstock. A refinery feedstock containing naphthenic acids is contacted with an effective amount of solid catalyst that has been pretreated with an aqueous caustic base, for a period of time sufficient to neutralize at least a portion of the naphthenic acids in the feedstock. Thereafter, the aqueous phase is separated from the neutralized refinery feedstock.

A process is described for reducing the total acid number of a refinery feedstock. A refinery feedstock containing naphthenic acids is contacted with an effective amount of solid catalyst that has been pretreated with an aqueous caustic base, for a period of time sufficient to neutralize at least a portion of the naphthenic acids in the feedstock. Thereafter, the aqueous phase is separated from the neutralized refinery feedstock.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing fructose or xylulose from biomass comprising glucose or xylose, and a method for separating a mixture of glucose and fructose and a mixture of xylose and xylulose.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing fructose or xylulose from biomass comprising glucose or xylose, and a method for separating a mixture of glucose and fructose and a mixture of xylose and xylulose.

A catalyst system is provided which comprises a solid support material having, on its surface, one or more catalytic transition metal complex wherein the solid support material comprises SiO.sub.2@AMO-LDH microspheres having the formula I: (i) wherein, M.sup.z+ and M.sup.y+ are two different charged metal cations; z=1 or 2; y=3 or 4; 0<x<0.9; b is 0 to 10; c is 0.01 to 10, preferably >0.01 and <10; p>0 q>0; X.sup.n? is an anion with n>0, preferably 1?5a=z(1?x)+xy?2; and the AMO-solvent is an 100% aqueous miscible organic solvent. Preferably, M in the formula I is Al. Preferably, M in the formula I is Li, Mg or Ca. The catalyst system has use in the polymerization and/or copolymerization of at least one olefin to produce a homopolymer and/or copolymer.

A catalyst system is provided which comprises a solid support material having, on its surface, one or more catalytic transition metal complex wherein the solid support material comprises SiO.sub.2@AMO-LDH microspheres having the formula I: (i) wherein, M.sup.z+ and M.sup.y+ are two different charged metal cations; z=1 or 2; y=3 or 4; 0<x<0.9; b is 0 to 10; c is 0.01 to 10, preferably >0.01 and <10; p>0 q>0; X.sup.n? is an anion with n>0, preferably 1?5a=z(1?x)+xy?2; and the AMO-solvent is an 100% aqueous miscible organic solvent. Preferably, M in the formula I is Al. Preferably, M in the formula I is Li, Mg or Ca. The catalyst system has use in the polymerization and/or copolymerization of at least one olefin to produce a homopolymer and/or copolymer.

The present disclosure describes a method of synthesizing carbodiimides comprising providing an alkylisothiourea, providing a thiophilic reagent to the reaction mixture and reacting under conditions sufficient to provide the carbodiimide, and wherein the carbodiimide is a polycarbodiimide or a biscarbodiimide. The present disclosure further describes methods for isolating the carbodiimides. The present disclosure additionally describes isolated carbodiimide compositions.

The present disclosure describes a method of synthesizing carbodiimides comprising providing an alkylisothiourea, providing a thiophilic reagent to the reaction mixture and reacting under conditions sufficient to provide the carbodiimide, and wherein the carbodiimide is a polycarbodiimide or a biscarbodiimide. The present disclosure further describes methods for isolating the carbodiimides. The present disclosure additionally describes isolated carbodiimide compositions.

A method of producing a catalyst can include heating a hydrotalcite above a decomposition temperature, forming a decomposed hydrotalcite in response to the heating, combining the decomposed hydrotalcite with a metal salt to form a catalyst mixture, and heating the catalyst mixture to convert the metal salt to a metal oxide. The resulting metal oxide combined with the decomposed hydrotalcite forms the catalyst.

The present invention relates to a catalyst for producing carbon nanotubes, a method for preparing the catalyst, and a method for producing carbon nanotubes using the catalyst which includes a support, and an active layer formed on a surface of the support, wherein the active layer contains CoO and Co.sub.3O.sub.4, and has, through XRD pattern measurement, one peak at 2?=35? to 38?, and one peak at 2?=41? to 44?, and a proportion of CoO among the CoO and Co.sub.3O.sub.4 is 55 at % or more. The catalyst according to the present invention can efficiently synthesize low-diameter carbon nanotubes.